Kingston's Cruise set to pitch for East Carolina

How badly did Kingston pitcher Ashley Cruise want to attend East Carolina University?

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By JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ

recordonline.com

By JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ

Posted Feb. 1, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ

Posted Feb. 1, 2013 at 2:00 AM

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How badly did Kingston pitcher Ashley Cruise want to attend East Carolina University?

Only two hours after participating at a camp at East Carolina earlier this month, Cruise emailed the softball staff, thanking them for having her. She followed up with more emails, professing her interest in the Conference USA school.

As it turns out, the feeling is mutual.

Cruise, a junior, said Wednesday that she has verbally committed to Division I East Carolina, located in Greenville, N.C. Cruise said she will receive a full athletic scholarship.

"I'm so excited about it," Cruise said. "My dream has always been to play in the South. It's pretty big for a girl from the Northeast. I was really anxious, I really wanted to play at East Carolina."

In her second full year on varsity, Cruise went 8-7 with a 2.58 ERA for Kingston last season. She has a fastball that has been clocked as high as 63 mph, according to Brian Mills, who coached Kingston last season. He stepped down during the offseason and was replaced by Andrea Clausi.

Cruise plays club ball for the Frozen Ropes Force out of Chester and was tutored at the facility by former Syracuse pitching coach Mike Bosch. Frozen Ropes owner Tony Abbatine helped Cruise hash out the scholarship with East Carolina, which went 25-27 last season, including 11-12 in C-USA. Abbatine said Cruise, who also has an impressive changeup, could see playing time as a freshman.

"This is one of the biggest scholarships to ever come out of Kingston," Mills said. "It's huge. There's no doubt in my mind that Ashley will live up to it. She has all the attributes to succeed."